FTSE 100 Edges Lower Amid Energy Gains and ECB Expectations

The FTSE 100 index closed slightly lower on Thursday, despite gains in energy shares.

Gains in oil prices helped push up energy stocks, but weakness in precious metal mining shares offset those gains.

Investors were focused on corporate earnings and the European Central Bank's latest policy decision, which was expected to leave interest rates unchanged.

The blue-chip FTSE 100 index fell 0.04% to 10,712.83 points by 1050 GMT, while the mid-cap FTSE 250 index declined by 0.3% during the session.